Physician Assistant Exam / PAEA EOC
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant download Pdf
1. A 24-year-old presents with fever, sore throat, and tender anterior cervical
lymphadenopathy. Tonsillar exudates are present. What is the most appropriate
next step?
A. Start amoxicillin immediately
B. Perform rapid antigen detection test for Group A strep
C. Order chest X-ray
D. Prescribe antiviral therapy
Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical features suggest streptococcal pharyngitis, but confirmation
with rapid antigen testing is recommended before antibiotics in most guidelines.
2. A 65-year-old with COPD presents with worsening dyspnea, increased
sputum, and purulence. What is the best initial treatment?
A. Oral steroids and antibiotics
B. Anticoagulation
C. Immediate intubation
D. Antifungal therapy
Answer: A
Rationale: This is a COPD exacerbation with infectious features requiring steroids
and antibiotics.
,3. A patient presents with sudden chest pain radiating to the back and unequal
blood pressures in both arms. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Aortic dissection
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pericarditis
Answer: B
Rationale: Classic tearing pain with pulse/BP discrepancy suggests aortic
dissection.
4. A 30-year-old has polyuria, polydipsia, glucose 520 mg/dL, and ketones in
urine. What is the priority diagnosis?
A. Hyperosmolar state
B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
C. SIADH
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperglycemia with ketones indicates DKA.
5. A patient on warfarin presents with INR of 8 but no bleeding. What is the
appropriate management?
A. Give vitamin K orally
B. Immediate transfusion
C. Stop warfarin and monitor
D. Give heparin
Answer: C
Rationale: Supratherapeutic INR without bleeding is managed by holding warfarin.
,6. A 19-year-old has fever, stiff neck, and petechial rash. What is the most
urgent action?
A. Lumbar puncture before antibiotics
B. Start IV ceftriaxone immediately
C. Wait for culture results
D. Oral antibiotics only
Answer: B
Rationale: Suspected meningococcal meningitis requires immediate antibiotics.
7. A patient presents with crushing chest pain and ST elevation in leads II, III,
and aVF. Which artery is most likely occluded?
A. LAD
B. Right coronary artery
C. Left circumflex
D. Left main coronary artery
Answer: B
Rationale: Inferior MI is typically due to RCA occlusion.
8. A child presents with barking cough and inspiratory stridor. What is the best
treatment?
A. Antibiotics
B. Nebulized epinephrine and dexamethasone
C. Bronchoscopy
D. Antihistamines only
Answer: B
Rationale: This is croup, treated with steroids and epinephrine if severe.
9. A patient has severe right lower quadrant pain, fever, and rebound
tenderness. Diagnosis?
, A. Diverticulitis
B. Appendicitis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Classic presentation of appendicitis.
10. A pregnant woman at 32 weeks presents with painless vaginal bleeding.
Most likely diagnosis?
A. Placenta previa
B. Placental abruption
C. Ectopic pregnancy
D. Preterm labor
Answer: A
Rationale: Painless third-trimester bleeding suggests placenta previa.
11. A patient presents with fever, RUQ pain, and jaundice. Diagnosis?
A. Cholecystitis
B. Ascending cholangitis
C. Hepatitis A
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Charcot triad (fever, RUQ pain, jaundice) indicates cholangitis.
12. A 45-year-old has episodic wheezing and reversible airway obstruction.
Diagnosis?
A. COPD
B. Asthma
C. Bronchiectasis
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant download Pdf
1. A 24-year-old presents with fever, sore throat, and tender anterior cervical
lymphadenopathy. Tonsillar exudates are present. What is the most appropriate
next step?
A. Start amoxicillin immediately
B. Perform rapid antigen detection test for Group A strep
C. Order chest X-ray
D. Prescribe antiviral therapy
Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical features suggest streptococcal pharyngitis, but confirmation
with rapid antigen testing is recommended before antibiotics in most guidelines.
2. A 65-year-old with COPD presents with worsening dyspnea, increased
sputum, and purulence. What is the best initial treatment?
A. Oral steroids and antibiotics
B. Anticoagulation
C. Immediate intubation
D. Antifungal therapy
Answer: A
Rationale: This is a COPD exacerbation with infectious features requiring steroids
and antibiotics.
,3. A patient presents with sudden chest pain radiating to the back and unequal
blood pressures in both arms. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Aortic dissection
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pericarditis
Answer: B
Rationale: Classic tearing pain with pulse/BP discrepancy suggests aortic
dissection.
4. A 30-year-old has polyuria, polydipsia, glucose 520 mg/dL, and ketones in
urine. What is the priority diagnosis?
A. Hyperosmolar state
B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
C. SIADH
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperglycemia with ketones indicates DKA.
5. A patient on warfarin presents with INR of 8 but no bleeding. What is the
appropriate management?
A. Give vitamin K orally
B. Immediate transfusion
C. Stop warfarin and monitor
D. Give heparin
Answer: C
Rationale: Supratherapeutic INR without bleeding is managed by holding warfarin.
,6. A 19-year-old has fever, stiff neck, and petechial rash. What is the most
urgent action?
A. Lumbar puncture before antibiotics
B. Start IV ceftriaxone immediately
C. Wait for culture results
D. Oral antibiotics only
Answer: B
Rationale: Suspected meningococcal meningitis requires immediate antibiotics.
7. A patient presents with crushing chest pain and ST elevation in leads II, III,
and aVF. Which artery is most likely occluded?
A. LAD
B. Right coronary artery
C. Left circumflex
D. Left main coronary artery
Answer: B
Rationale: Inferior MI is typically due to RCA occlusion.
8. A child presents with barking cough and inspiratory stridor. What is the best
treatment?
A. Antibiotics
B. Nebulized epinephrine and dexamethasone
C. Bronchoscopy
D. Antihistamines only
Answer: B
Rationale: This is croup, treated with steroids and epinephrine if severe.
9. A patient has severe right lower quadrant pain, fever, and rebound
tenderness. Diagnosis?
, A. Diverticulitis
B. Appendicitis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Classic presentation of appendicitis.
10. A pregnant woman at 32 weeks presents with painless vaginal bleeding.
Most likely diagnosis?
A. Placenta previa
B. Placental abruption
C. Ectopic pregnancy
D. Preterm labor
Answer: A
Rationale: Painless third-trimester bleeding suggests placenta previa.
11. A patient presents with fever, RUQ pain, and jaundice. Diagnosis?
A. Cholecystitis
B. Ascending cholangitis
C. Hepatitis A
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Charcot triad (fever, RUQ pain, jaundice) indicates cholangitis.
12. A 45-year-old has episodic wheezing and reversible airway obstruction.
Diagnosis?
A. COPD
B. Asthma
C. Bronchiectasis
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
